Container vessel scrapping hits two-year highShipowners scrapped the most container vessels in two years this month as they seek to revive cargo rates amid an oversupply of ships and higher fuel costs.

Vale ore carrier for Philippine portOne of Vale's mega ore carriers, among the world's biggest, is expected to arrive in the Philippines this week to unload its maiden cargo of Brazilian iron ore as the miner's fleet remains locked out of its biggest market, China. Vale has been forced to divert its fleet of six mega vessels to the Philippines, Italy, Oman and other destinations while waiting for Beijing to give it access to Chinese ports.

Strait Talk

Naval presence still criticalA STRONG naval presence off Somalia is more necessary than ever.

Shipping Times

China unveils new high-speed trainChina has unveiled a prototype train capable of reaching speeds up to 500 kilometres an hour, state media said yesterday, as the nation pushes ahead with high-speed rail despite a fatal crash.

Stricken vessel in Antarctica takes on more fuelExtra fuel transferred to Sparta to adjust trim and expose hole in hull for repairs.

Sinopec Zhoushan reaches bunker sales target for 2011Aims to sell three million mt of bunker fuel in 2012.

New slow steaming clause publishedNew clause addresses the legal and technical aspects of slow steaming in time charter parties.

New study sheds light on impacts of bunker fuelComponents of Cosco Busan bunker oil accumulated in naturally spawned herring embryos, then interacted with sunlight during low tides to kill the embryos.